Opopaea spinosiscorona n. sp.

Ranasinghe, U. G. S. L. & Benjamin, Suresh P., 2018, Taxonomic descriptions of nine new species of the goblin spider genera Cavisternum, Grymeus, Ischnothyreus, Opopaea, Pelicinus and Silhouettella (Araneae, Oonopidae) from Sri Lanka, Evolutionary Systematics 2 (1), pp. 65-80 : 66

Opopaea spinosiscorona n. sp. Figs 8 A–J, 9 A–B, 10 A–B

Type material.

Male holotype from Sri Lanka, Sabaragamuwa Province, Kegalle District, Kurulukelle FR, 07°14'12"N, 80°20'33"E, 200m, litter; 12 November 2014; leg. N. Athukorala (sample IFS_Oon_252) (ZFMK).

Paratypes.

4 males, 1 female; same locality data (IFS_Oon_247-251) (ZFMK).

Other material examined.

1 female; Sri Lanka, Central Province, Kandy District, Meemure, 07°14'14"N 80°38'19"E, 890m, 20 April 2010, leg. S. Batuwita, Gunawardana (IFS_Oon_023). 1 male, 1 female; Deenston, Knuckles range, 07°20'10"N, 80°51'31"E, 1120m, 19 January 2010, leg. S. P. Benjamin, S. Batuwita (IFS_Oon_061-062). 4 males, 3 females; Udawattakele FR, 07°17'57"N, 80°38'29"E, 580m, 21 August 2012, leg. S. P. Benjamin, 24 August 2016, N. Athukorala et al. (IFS_Oon_109-114, 377-378). 1 male, 2 females; Gannoruwa FR, 07°16'56.85"N, 80°35'57.25"E, 575m, 25 November 2013, leg. N. Athukorala et al. (IFS_Oon_157-159). 1 female, 1 male; Dunumadalawa FR, 07°17'00"N, 80°37'49"E, 600m, 26 November 2013, leg. S. P. Benjamin et al.; 05 January 2017, N. Athukora et al. (IFS_Oon_187, 431). 2 males; Knuckles site 01 (Riverston), 19 February 2015, leg. N. Athukorala (IFS_Oon_282-283). 3 males, 1 female; Matale District, IFS Arboretum, 07°51'34"N, 80°40'28"E, 180m, 24 August 2010, leg. S. P. Benjamin,S. Batuwita; 07 July 2013, leg. S. P. Benjamin, N. Athukorala; 27 April 2010, leg. S. P. Benjamin, S. Batuwita; 20 January 2016, leg. N. Athukorala et al. (IFS_Oon_048, 069, 073, 339). 1 male; Riverston, Knuckles range, 07°31'42"N, 80°44'17"E, 1100m, 02 December 2009, leg. S. P. Benjamin, S. Batuwita (IFS_Oon_049). 2 males; Elahara/Pallegama Road, 3km to Pallegama, 07°32'16"N, 80°40'20"E, 267m, 03 February 2016, leg. S. P. Benjamin, N. Athukorala (IFS_Oon_318-319). 1 male, 1 female; Bowatenna Reservoir area, Thick forest along road, 07°39'37"N, 80°41'18"E, 252m, 10 February 2016, leg. S. P. Benjamin et al. (IFS_Oon_331-332). 3 males, 2 females; Uva Province, Badulla District, forest around Rawana Cave, 06°51'52.4"N 81°03'01.3"E, 990m, 31 December 2011, leg. S. P. Benjamin et al. (IFS_Oon_218-222). 1 female; Monaragala District, Westminister Abbey, 07°02'42"N, 81°032'16"E, 120m, 10 February 2010, leg. S. P. Benjamin, S. Batuwita (IFS_Oon_077). 1 female; North Central Province, Anuradahapura District, Mihinthale FR, 08°21'10.60"N, 80°30'14.54"E, 06 July 2014, leg. N. Athukorala et al. (IFS_Oon_229). 1 female; Sabaragamuwa Province, Kegalle District, Kurulukele FR, 07°14'12"N, 80°20'33"E, 200m, 21August 2010, leg. S. Batuwita (IFS_Oon_030). 1 male; Eastern Province, Ampara District, Nuwaragala FR, 07°26'07.4"N, 81°31'58.8"E, 70m, 19 May 2015, leg. N. Athukorala (IFS_Oon_295). 2 females North Western Province, Kurunagala District, Ethagala FR, 07°28'17"N, 80°22'30"E, 190m, 20 August 2010, leg. S. Batuwita (IFS_Oon_058-059).

Diagnosis.

Both males and females of Opopaea spinosiscorona n. sp. are easily identified from all other species of the genus by the presence of four triangular-shaped spines on the posterior part of the carapace (Fig. 8A). Further, males of O. spinosiscorona n. sp. can be separated from other species of the genus by the enlarged palpal tip and short and beak-like extensions of the tip (Fig. 10A). Females can be identified by the U-shaped ridge between the epigastric furrow and the posterior spiracular groove which is shorter than the lateral apodemes (Fig. 10B).

Etymology. The species name refers to the presence of four spines on its carapace.

Description.

Male: Total length 1.62 (Carapace, L: 0.64, W: 0.56. Abdomen, L: 0.98, W; 0.64). Coloration: uniformly orange brown colored, palps reddish brown. Carapace ovoid in dorsal view (Fig. 8A), pars cephalica slightly elevated in lateral view (Fig. 8C), with angular posterolateral corners, posterolateral edge without pits, anterolateral corners without extension or projections, posterolateral surface with four triangular spikes (Fig. 8A), sides striated (Fig. 8C), lateral margin straight. Clypeus straight in front view, margin unmodified, ALE separated from edge of carapace by more than their diameter, median projection absent, setae present (Fig. 8B). Six eyes, well developed (Fig. 8B), ALE largest, PLE smallest, ALE round, PME oval, posterior eye row curved from above, procurved from front; all eyes touching each other. Sternum long as wide, uniform, fused to carapace, median concavity absent, with radial furrows between coxae I-II, II-III, III-IV (Fig. 8E), furrow wrinkled, surface smooth, with pits, posterior margin not extending posteriorly of coxae IV (Fig. 8E).

Chelicerae fangs straight, anterior face unmodified, without tooth-like projections, chelicerae inner margin with enlarged setae (ceh). Labium triangular, fused to sternum, anterior margin indented at middle. Endites not excavated distally. Abdomen elongated oval, rounded posteriorly (Fig. 8F). Dorsal scutum strongly sclerotized, orange-brown, without color pattern, covering full length of abdomen, no soft tissue visible from above (Fig. 8F). Epigastric scutum strongly sclerotized, surrounding pedicel, not protruding (Fig. 8G) book lung covers small, straight, without setae posterior spiracles connected by groove (Fig. 8G). Postepigastric scutum long, semicircular, covering nearly full length of abdominal length, fused to epigastric scutum, anterior margin unmodified, with short posteriorly directed lateral apodemes (Fig. 8G). Pedicel tube short, with small, dorsolateral, triangular extensions, scuto-pedicel region with paired curved scutal ridges (Fig. 8I). Spinneret scutum present as an incomplete ring (Fig. 8J), with fringe of long setae. Leg spines absent, femur IV not thickened, but longer than femora I-III. Genitalia: Sperm pore small, oval, situated at level of anterior spiracles (Fig. 8G). Palp slightly sclerotized (Fig. 8A), proximal segments pale orange; femur two or more times as long as trochanter, attaching to patellae subbasally, patellae longer and larger than femur, cymbium pale orange, narrow in dorsal view, completely fused with bulb, no seam visible, not extending beyond distal tip of bulb, bulb pale orange, 1 to 1.5 times as long as cymbium, slender, elongated, ventrally expanded (Fig. 10A).

Female: Total length 1.74 (Carapace, L: 0.64, W: 0.56. Abdomen, L: 1.10, W; 0.72). In general similar to males. Carapace anterior narrowed to 0.49 times its maximum width (Fig. 9A). Dorsal scutum covering most of abdomen, postepigastric scutum covering most of abdomen, not fused to epigastric scutum. Genitalia: Epigastric region with V-shaped ridge between epigastric furrow and Posterior spiracular groove in ventral view (Fig. 9B).

Distribution.

Kurulukelle FR, Udawattakele FR, Gannoruwa FR, Ethagala FR, Nuwaragala FR, Mihinthale FR, Westminister Abbey, forest around Rawanaella Cave, Bowatenna Reservoir area, Dambulla IFS Arboretum, Knuckles range (Deenston, Meemure, Riverston), Dunumadalawa FR.